When it comes to hiring in today’s market, smart consultancies and design practices aren’t just looking for the best people in town — they’re looking for the best people, full stop.

With major infrastructure, architecture, and engineering projects ramping up across Queensland ahead of the 2032 Olympics, consultancies are feeling the heat. There’s more work than ever, but skilled professionals remain in short supply. So what are the savvy operators doing? They’re widening the net.

An Observation from Nick

“I spoke with a consulting client last week who’s looking for an intermediate engineer,” says Nick Koop, Director at Vivid Recruitment. “They’re working on exciting projects, have a solid team, and on the face of it, it should be an easy sell to candidates.

They’ve interviewed six people — none from Brisbane.

That really shocked me. The workload across Queensland is only going to go one way over the next 12 months, and if companies are already struggling to find local talent now, I shudder to think what it will be like next year and beyond.”

Nick’s observation highlights a growing reality — as Queensland’s construction, design, and infrastructure pipelines surge, the local talent pool simply can’t keep up.

The New Normal: Location Optional

Remote collaboration isn’t just a pandemic trend — it’s now standard practice across the architecture, design, engineering, and planning industries. Whether it’s an architect working from Melbourne for a Brisbane studio, or a structural engineer based in Adelaide consulting on Queensland’s health and education projects, the postcode on someone’s email signature matters far less than it used to.

Consultancies that have embraced this shift are discovering a major advantage: access to a deeper, more diverse talent pool — and faster, smarter hiring outcomes.

The Queensland Effect

It’s no secret that Queensland is booming. From Olympic venues and transport upgrades to large-scale urban renewal and multi-residential projects, the pipeline of work is massive.

But with that growth comes pressure — particularly on local design, planning, and engineering teams. The most forward-thinking consultancies aren’t waiting for the perfect local candidate to appear. They’re actively recruiting from interstate (and occasionally overseas), focusing on cultural fit, project alignment, and long-term capability rather than postcode.

So, How Are We Expecting Things to Unfold?

As we edge closer to 2026 and beyond, competition for top talent in Queensland — and across Australia — will only intensify. We’re already seeing:

• More firms hiring interstate, particularly from Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia.
• Flexible hybrid arrangements becoming the standard for many architecture and engineering consultancies.
• Greater emphasis on retention, culture, and leadership development as practices focus on keeping the exceptional talent they’ve already secured.

What This Means for Employers

If you’re still restricting your recruitment search to your own postcode, you could be missing out on exceptional talent. With the right systems, communication, and flexibility in place, distance doesn’t have to be a barrier — and widening your search could be the key to building a future-ready team.

At Vivid Recruitment, we’re helping architecture, design, engineering, and planning practices across Australia tap into the best talent — whether they’re around the corner or across state lines.

Final Word from Lee Stevens

“As recruiters who are on the ground every day talking with candidates and clients, we’re seeing this shift firsthand,” says Lee Stevens, Director and Principal Recruitment Consultant at Vivid Recruitment. “Practices that are open to interstate or flexible arrangements are the ones securing the best people — especially in this competitive environment.

It’s not just about finding talent anymore — it’s about being smart, adaptable, and ready for where the industry’s heading.”



Because when the work’s booming and the competition’s fierce, thinking outside the postcode might just be your smartest business move yet.

Contact the Team

Get in touch with our guys to help you out.

Contact:

Nicholas Koop, Principal Recruitment Consultant, Engineering - 📲 0426 180 254 📧 nick@vividrecruitment.com.au

Lee Stevens, Principal Recruitment Consultant, Architecture, Design, Planning - 📲 0406 470 020 📧 lee@vividrecruitment.com.au

You can also connect with Lee on LinkedIn and Nick on LinkedIn or follow the Vivid Recruitment LinkedIn page for more industry insights, news, jobs and general chit chat and tips!

Vivid Recruitment -  Your specialist partner in:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are consultancies expanding their talent search beyond Queensland?

Consultancies across Queensland are expanding their talent search due to increasing demand driven by major infrastructure, architecture and engineering projects, particularly in the lead up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.

With more projects underway and a limited local talent pool, firms are recruiting interstate and offering flexible arrangements to secure skilled professionals. Expanding beyond postcode boundaries allows businesses to access a broader, more experienced candidate market and reduce hiring delays.

Is there a skills shortage in engineering and architecture in Queensland?

Yes. Queensland is currently experiencing a skills shortage across engineering, architecture, planning and project management.

As infrastructure, transport, health, education and multi-residential developments accelerate, the demand for experienced professionals is outpacing local supply. This is particularly evident in intermediate to senior engineering roles, where competition between consultancies is intensifying.

Are architecture and engineering firms hiring interstate candidates in Australia?

Increasingly, yes.

Many architecture and engineering consultancies are actively recruiting interstate from Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia to meet project demand. With hybrid and remote collaboration now standard practice, geographic location is less of a barrier than it once was.

Firms open to interstate hiring are typically securing talent faster and gaining access to a more diverse range of skills and experience.

How does remote and hybrid work impact recruitment in 2026?

Remote and hybrid work models have fundamentally changed recruitment across Australia’s design and engineering sectors.

In 2026, flexible working arrangements are no longer considered a perk. They are an expectation. Practices that offer structured hybrid models are widening their talent pool, improving retention and strengthening their employer value proposition in a competitive market.

For employers, flexibility is becoming a strategic advantage rather than a temporary adjustment.

How can consultancies secure top talent during Queensland’s infrastructure boom?

To secure top talent during Queensland’s infrastructure surge, consultancies should:

• Expand recruitment searches beyond their immediate location
• Offer flexible or hybrid working arrangements
• Focus on leadership, culture and retention strategies
• Move quickly and decisively during the interview process

Partnering with a specialist recruiter such as Vivid Recruitment can also provide access to pre-qualified interstate candidates and real-time market insight.

In a competitive market, adaptability and speed are often the difference between securing exceptional talent and missing out.